Salina Cruz, Mexico

"Casa El Mirador", Salina Cruz Surf Tours new Surf Camp is now open as of May 2011. The new camp is brand new modern construction with full amenities located on a private hilltop compound w/commanding ocean and surf views just minutes from the area's best surf breaks.

The arid badlands that border the Gulf of Tehuantepec are reminiscent of the Central Baja and are no more hospitable. Access in this area is difficult and sketchy, and because of the variety of set-ups and changing wind, swell and tide conditions, an experienced local surf guide and 4x4 is essential. Salina Cruz Surf Tours has its own 4x4 fleet of off-road trucks and is ready to handle all your transportation and guiding needs.

The surf in this region ranges from intermediate to expert in difficulty level. There are many fast, hollow waves for shortboarding and also several classic points for longboarding. The best season is from mid-April to mid-October. A maximum of 12 surfers are booked w/Salina Cruz Surf Tours per week, and are divided up into smaller tactical groups for surfing averaging 3-5 surfers each. The trip is open to parties ranging from 1 individual to groups as large as 12, and is recommended for core surfers looking to maximize time in the water but not seeking a touristy experience.

The Salina Cruz region has little to no tourism infrastructure whatsoever and is virtually untouched by development. Salina Cruz is a blue collar Mexican industrial town 2 and ½ hours East of Huatulco with an oil based economy featuring a large Pemex plant, oil refinery and commercial port. Although it is not touristy, it has all major services.

Salina Cruz Tour Includes:

Accommodation at "Casa El Mirador" *New Camp for 2011 season on private hilltop compound with commanding Ocean and Surf views.

Cesar Ramirez has grown up surfing this area and has operated its original surf tour company Salina Cruz Surf Tours since 2000 with the blessing of the local people, surfers and government, and has hosted many groups of everyday surfers as well as top professional surfers such as Mick Fanning, Shane Dorian, Dane Reynolds, Joel Parkinson, Taj, Jordy Smith, Benji Weatherly, Mike Parsons, Dino and Kolohe Andino, Stephanie Gilmore, and many more.

The Surf

Tehuantepec Beachbreak: Miles of good, A-frame beachbreak with prevailing offshores year round, though sometimes too strong Oct-Apr. Tubes. A swell magnet, best on small-medium S and SW swells. N-E winds. Low tide best. Boat access only from nearby fishing village. No other surfers.

Tuxtepec : Worldclass righthand jetty break. Comparable to Sandspit. Steep, often, dry takeoff. A mistake puts you into the rocks. The wave is a barrel with up to 5 second stand up tube rides when on. The prevailing N winds are offshore here but sometimes turn hard NE and give the wave a dangerous cross chop. Low tide only.Punta Cuicatlan : Surreal location amidst massive primordial sand dunes in natural isolation hosting a world class right pointbreak with rides up to 500 meters that has been compared to Jeffrey's by Michael Tomson and others. SW-W winds or no wind best. The dominant and often strong N-NE winds blow side onshore here and ruin the wave. Best during rainy season and boat access only for most of it. Low to mid tides best and needs a major S swell to turn on.

Punta Coyotepec : Another righthand pointbreak but this one is a mushier wave ideal for longboards and beginners. High tides best. NW-SW winds or light N winds okay.

Punta Coaixtlahuaca : Postcard whitesand beach tucked away inside a surreal rocky headland. The wave wedges up against a rocky headland and into a powerful thick bowl as it peels along the cliff. The wave starts to work at 5 feet and holds up to 12ft + and doesn‚t close out. Low to mid tide best. No public access. The break lies on private land and has a locked gate patrolled by local landowners with machetes. Access with Salina Cruz Surf tours only.

Punta Teotitlan : This is another right point requiring low tide and a strong southerly swell to work. The wave breaks in deep water and has a steep bowly takeoff, then sets up into a long peeling inside wall section with wide open faces ideal for longboarding or fun shortboarding. SW-W winds best.

Punta Ocotlan : A righthand pointbreak accessible only by boat and still largely unexplored.

Inside Ixtlan : A powerful, hollow righthander breaking on the inside of a short jetty. Similar to Santa Barbara Sandspit. The wave sucks out and peels for 50 meters or so before self combusting. Low tides mandatory due to high tide backwash. Better wind protection than some of the other points and more consistent. Works on N, W and SW winds. 4x4 access only during rainy season and by permission of local landowners only.

Outside Ixtlan : A longer, outside second jetty which yields an extremely powerful, thick and tubing righthander with consequences.

Punta Putla : A right point break with a large rock in the lineup from which you take off on the outside or inside and surf the wave along and into a shallow inside section that tubes at low tide.

Punta Temascal : This is the most famous wave in the area. A righthand sand pointbreak. The wave barrels from the top of the headland and peels for several hundred meters down the point. The takeoff is steep and hollow but innocuous. Super fun wave. 10-15 surfers common, but 8 or less possible at times. Crowd becomes a non-issue at size due to plentiful set waves, lengthy rides and heavy currents.

The Accommodations : Casa El Mirador

New Surf Camp for 2011 w/Surf View of Jetty and Pointbreaks. The new camp is a private hilltop compound w/commanding ocean and surf views.